FAQs

We work on all types of timber, not just cedar. So whether it's Macrocarpa, Plywood, Pine, Larch, Balau, Mahogany, or another timber type, the process is largely the same and the prep can even be a bit easier if it's a harder timber type.

We can absolutely care for your property in winter - the only thing that will stop us is direct, heavy rain. In fact, in some ways winter is preferable…the harsh NZ sun is one of your cedar’s biggest enemies, so getting your cladding washed and recoated in winter will have it well protected and looking great for the upcoming summer when you’re actually spending a lot of time outdoors; plus your treatment will begin repelling rain immediately too, protecting it from whatever winter can throw at it.

As with all things, prevention is better than cure, so there are some tell-tale signs that some maintenance is due on your cladding which should be done before more serious restorative treatment is required. If your cladding is no longer beading water, or if the colour tone has become faded, oxidised or chalky whilst still remaining even and not patchy, then some maintenance work is now due. If your cladding is no longer beading water, the colour tone has faded but become patchy, if there is discolouration, bare timber showing, moss, mould, algae or lichen present, then maintenance is overdue. If your cedar has begun to cup, warp, split or rot, then maintenance is well and truly overdue and we may need to call on one of our builders to get involved too.

Only if the timber on your home hasn’t been maintained. If the cladding on all the elevations of your home are showing signs of degradation (see, What are signs that my cedar cladding may need some attention?) then yes, your whole house will need treatment. But once everything’s in good order and a maintenance plan is in place, you should only need to treat the elevations that require it, when they require it, as certain elevations of your home will be exposed to more sunlight etc and therefore need attention sooner than others, whilst the other elevations can be left longer before more maintenance is required. Get in touch with us if you’d like to sign up to our free Maintenance Program.

You can if you really want, but we definitely wouldn’t recommend it! In all seriousness though, please don’t. 

Firstly, Cedar is magnificent stuff, full of anti-fungal properties and packed with oils and resins that naturally repel water. But, these diminish over time and once depleted its defenceless against the elements and prone to a raft of issues. Leaving your cedar out there to fend for itself without a treatment is like leaving yourself out in the sun and the rain without sunscreen, moisturiser or an umbrella - you’re asking for trouble, and trouble will eventually find you in the form of splitting, cupping, warping and rot.

Secondly, that silvered look you may be so keen on is really just the outer fibres of your cedar fraying and loosening which is actually a sign of damage from long term UV exposure, leaving an opening for moss and mould etc to gain a foothold in the process. Plus, more often than not, it won’t occur evenly around your house as different elevations of your property will have higher UV exposure than others meaning it will silver off inconsistently. The modern timber stains and wood oils come in a range of colours these days, many of which mimic that silvered patina. If you’ve got your heart set on that silvered look then we strongly recommend choosing one of these colours instead - you’ll get that even, consistent colour that you’re after and peace of mind, knowing you’re protecting your cedar and your property in the process.

It’s not that stain is bad - it’s not; it’s just that oil is better - especially over the lifespan of your cladding, not to mention cheaper to maintain in the longrun too as it’s a one-coat system.

Stains and oils are translucent protective coatings that allow the grain of the timber to show through whilst also being able to carry a colour tone of your choice. They’re both great, will enhance the natural beauty of your cladding and are both highly effective in protecting your cedar from the elements, drastically extending its lifespan in the process if they’re maintained.

Stains can be likened to a pair of pantyhose - they have a colour, they are translucent in nature and they form a film that sits on the timber surface. It is this film that is formed upon application which is relied upon to protect the timber from the elements. It is a 2-coat system, meaning that each reapplication requires 2 coats, and lasts approximately 3-5 years, depending on maintenance and exposure (some elevations that really get blasted by the sun may need a look at sooner)

Oils can be likened to a moisturising sunscreen. They are what’s called a ‘migrating oil’ as they don’t form a film but instead migrate beneath the timber surface and replenish the timber's oils and resins whilst leaving the colour tone alone on the surface of the timber to provide UV protection. It is a 1-coat system, meaning that each application requires just 1 coat (if it has been maintained). Although retreatment is suggested every 2 years, with proper maintenance its lifespan should mirror that of the stains. (If your cedar is new, or if it hasn’t been maintained and needed to be stripped as part of a restorative treatment, it will require one coat as usual, but a second coat in 1-3mnths for new timber, and 3-6mnths for restored timber, to build up colourtone and required level of oil migration, after which returning to a 1 coat system).

Due to the nature of the different products as explained above (see, Oil vs stain - what’s the deal?) we’d only be willing to look into switching from a stain to an oil, as the film forming stain can be completely removed using a chemical paint stripper.

Switching from an oil to a stain is problematic as the oil is deep within the timber and will get drawn to the surface as its exposure to the elements continues. This could cause issues to the film that is formed by the new stain and because of this it’s not something we’d be willing to put our names to.

Having said that though, as a rule of thumb, we recommend sticking with whatever you’ve got. With regular maintenance, both systems are great.

Yes! And no. Sorry.

If you have a wood oil on your cladding then we can do a heavy chemical wash to remove the existing product and change the colour, but your only real choice is to go darker. And once you go darker it’s very hard to go lighter again. So I’d give it a lot of thought and be weary of following what could possibly end up being a short-lived trend.

If you have a stain on your cladding then yes, we can apply a chemical paint stripper to completely remove the stain from your cladding and then reapply a new colour of your choice (but, see above, Can I switch between an oil and a stain or vice versa? for more).

No, this definitely isn’t a service we offer, or even recommend for that matter. There are some new cedar cladding products that leave the factory painted, but we definitely don’t recommend painting weathered cedar. There’s too many things that can go wrong and/or fail as time progresses so it’s not something we’d be willing to put our names to. Paint systems rely on a thick film to provide its protection from the elements and the moisture in aged cedar will try and escape as it’s exposed to the sun causing blisters in the paint, for example. You may have found a painter willing to do this for you however - so if you’ve got your heart set on it, just make sure you get a watertight guarantee (pun intended).

Besides, cedar is beautiful, why cover it with paint?

Yes. We use PPE (personal protective equipment) when handling them as it’s required by OSH, we use them daily, and we handle them in their concentrated form prior to their dilution, afterwhich they’re rendered inert due to the volume of water added. They are also stored in tight containers and kept in our work vans after mixing.

Quite simply: because it will save you money. And that’s before we even start talking about how it will protect your family home - no doubt an extremely valuable asset that will only increase in value if kept in tip top shape. 

Regular cedar maintenance is cheaper than sporadic restoration, or worse - replacement.